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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: temple · hand · can · bound · arm · rule · toast · object

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. can — a tin
  3. object — an aim
  4. object — to protest
  5. hand — help
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bound — tied together
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. can — a tin
  11. toast — bread
  12. rule — a law
  13. bound — certain
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. hand — in cards
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. object — a thing
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. can — to be able to

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com